TARDA, Machakos strengthen collaboration on water resource protection
The Tana and Athi Rivers Development Authority (TARDA) has joined the County Government of Machakos and other development stakeholders in discussions aimed at strengthening climate resilience, with sustainable water resource management emerging as a key priority for regional development.
TARDA participated in the county’s Climate Change Technical Working Group meeting through its Athi Basin Regional Coordinator, Gibson Mwakideu. The meeting brought together county officials, national government representatives and development partners to explore coordinated approaches to climate adaptation and sustainable resource management.
Convened under the theme “Building Climate-Resilient Interventions through Stronger Partnerships, Coordination and Innovation in Machakos County,” the engagement provided a platform for institutions to share experiences, align priorities and identify opportunities for collaboration in addressing climate-related challenges.
TARDA presented its role in integrated regional development, contributing to discussions on technical cooperation and ways of strengthening climate adaptation across the county. Its involvement reflects the importance of connecting county-level environmental priorities with wider efforts to manage water resources and protect river basins.
Water resources are particularly important to climate resilience because changing rainfall patterns, prolonged dry spells and periods of intense rainfall can affect water availability, river flows, catchment conditions and the livelihoods of communities that depend on these resources. Coordinated planning can help institutions identify vulnerabilities and develop interventions that support the sustainable use and protection of water sources.
For Machakos County, collaboration among government agencies and development partners provides an opportunity to integrate water resource considerations into climate change planning. This includes promoting responsible management of catchments, protecting river systems and supporting infrastructure that helps communities cope with changing water conditions.
TARDA’s work across the Tana and Athi river basins places integrated resource management within the wider regional development agenda. River basins connect communities, economic activities and ecosystems, meaning that decisions affecting water use, land management and environmental protection in one area can have consequences elsewhere.
The technical working group meeting therefore offered an opportunity for stakeholders to consider how their respective mandates and expertise can complement one another. Better coordination can help institutions align interventions, share technical knowledge and reduce duplication when planning programmes that address environmental challenges.
Climate-resilient water management also requires attention to both the availability and sustainability of water resources. Protecting catchments and river systems, managing competing demands and incorporating climate risks into development planning can help safeguard water supplies for households, agriculture and other economic activities.
While partnerships provide a foundation for action, their effectiveness depends on translating shared priorities into practical interventions, supported by clear responsibilities and sustained implementation. Cooperation between county governments, national agencies and development partners can help connect water resource protection with broader climate adaptation and community resilience programmes.
The Machakos engagement highlights the importance of coordinated approaches to protecting water resources as climate pressures increase. By strengthening institutional collaboration and aligning development priorities, stakeholders can support more sustainable management of water resources and improve the capacity of communities across the Tana and Athi river basins to respond to climate-related risks.
